Newsletter 2025Q3
RECENT ACTIVITIES
- Announcement of Global Final Results for the 2025 ISETS-ESCAP Youth Voice Competition
On September 2nd 2025, the global finals of the 2nd ISETS-ESCAP & 3rd ISETS Global Competition of Youth Voice on Energy Transition & Youth Dialogue, were successfully held at the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) headquarters in Bangkok, Thailand. This event was not only organized by the United Nations ESCAP, but also received support from the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), fully demonstrating the UN system’s emphasis on youth engagement in energy transition.
In her opening remarks, Ms. Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ESCAP, highlighted: “The ISETS-ESCAP Global Youth Voices Competition on Energy Transition has shown us the dedication and ingenuity of young people.” She expressed gratitude to ISETS for its efforts in fostering youth innovation across more than 40 countries.
Dr. Suwit Khunkitti, Chairman of the ISETS Advisory Board and former Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand, further emphasized: “This competition is not just a showcase, but a platform for young people to redefine how energy is produced, consumed, and governed—through innovation and passion.”
After the divisional competition and online interviews, eight teams participated in the offline final, and their results are as follows.
- First Prize: O1nnovations, Energy Efficient Solutions – PRISTINZ
- Second Prize: Veni Vidi Vici, BrAIn, VisionEnerAI
- Third Prize: Rural Empowerment Ranger, Ennovators, Kinetic Power Systems
- ISETS Participates in the United Nations Intergovernmental Meeting to Raise the Voice of Youth and Experts in the Energy Transition
In September, 2025, ISETS has formally participated in a UN intergovernmental meeting for the first time, marking an important step in global dialogue and policy engagement on energy transition. ISETS was invited to participate in the fourth session of the Energy Commission hosted by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP). This high-level policy dialogue brings together government representatives, UN agencies and selected international organizations to discuss regional cooperation and sustainable energy development strategies.
On 4 September, Professor Shi Xunpeng, Chairman of ISETS (Principal Fellow, Australia-China Relations Institute, University of Technology Sydney), in the follow-up Action agenda on the implementation of the Ministerial Declaration on a Secure, Sustainable and Connected Energy Future in Asia and the Pacific, A formal speech was delivered on Part 3(d) of Project – “Promoting the deep participation of youth and youth organizations in energy transition policy formulation”.
Two youth ambassadors, Xingyu Chen and Dilnaza Karmenova who are the participants of the 2023 and 2024 ISETS – ESCAP Global Young Voices Competition on Energy Transition, respectively, were invited to speak out on this high-level platform. This change of identity not only shows ISETS ‘recognition of youth achievements, but also reflects ISETS’ commitment to enhance the actual influence of youth in the decision-making process. As ISETS continues to expand its cooperation with the United Nations Secretariat such as ESCAP, UNECE, ESCWA, UNIDO and universities, its international influence and multilateral participation are continuously deepening, laying a solid foundation for further promoting the transformation of global energy governance.
- China–Australia Dialogue on Energy, Resources, and Climate Policy, Sydney, Australia
The 17th ISETS Energy Transition Forum was held in Sydney on 31 July 2025 as a high-level, invitation-only roundtable. The event was initiated and led by the Centre for Climate and Energy Policy at the Australian National University (ANU:CCEP) as part of a broader national program funded by the National Foundation for Australia–China Relations (NFACR) to advance Australia–China cooperation on decarbonisation.
The Sydney forum was co-hosted in partnership with the Australia–China Relations Institute at UTS (UTS:ACRI) and the International Society for Energy Transition Studies (ISETS), who supported local coordination and stakeholder engagement. The roundtable brought together senior experts, government, industry, and academic representatives to exchange views on China’s evolving energy, industrial, and climate policies and explore opportunities for bilateral collaboration.
As part of a series of bilateral knowledge exchanges, the Sydney roundtable brought together senior Chinese academics and Australian stakeholders from government, industry, and academia to engage in an in-depth, off-the-record dialogue on China’s ongoing transformation in energy, resources, and climate policy. The Forum explored the domestic drivers of China’s low-carbon transition, recent developments in industrial decarbonisation (including green iron and steel), and the implications for bilateral cooperation, trade, and innovation in the energy sector.
Key Participants and Contributors:
Prof. Zhang Xiliang, Director, Institute of Energy, Environment and Economy, Tsinghua University
Dr. Weng Yuyan, Assistant Professor, Tsinghua University
Dr. Tony Tang, Associate Professor, Fudan University
Prof. Frank Jotzo, Director, ANU:CCEP
Prof. Xunpeng (Roc) Shi, President of ISETS, Research Principal at UTS:ACRI
This Forum reinforced ISETS’s role as a neutral platform for cross-border, multidisciplinary energy transition dialogue. The event also contributed to broader goals of fostering mutual understanding and cooperation between China and Australia in support of global climate and energy objectives. It marked a deepening of ISETS’s collaboration with academic and policy institutions and continued ISETS’s commitment to convening informed, high-level, and actionable exchanges across borders.
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
- The Third ISETS International Conference “Geopolitics and Global Collaboration for Decarbonization” will be held on 28 November-1 December 2025 University of Tokyo (Hongo Campus), Tokyo, Japan
The International Society for Energy Transition Studies (ISETS) will organise its third international conference (ISETS2025 conference) on 28 November- 1 December 2025, in Tokyo. The conference is co-organised by Canon Institute for Global Studies (CIGS), hosted by Science, Technology, and Innovation Governance (STIG), GraSPP, The University of Tokyo, and co-hosted by Tokai University Research Institute for Environment and Sustainability (TRIES), Tokai University. The conference will address critical issues in sustainable energy transition and the global response to climate change. Its goal is to facilitate a comprehensive dialogue on the intersection of energy policy, climate governance, and technological innovation by bringing together leading academics, analysts, policymakers, and industry experts. This conference aims to foster collaborative approaches and innovative solutions for a sustainable and equitable energy future in the context of global climate challenges.
Call for Special Concurrent Session proposals:
The ISETS2025 Conference is now accepting applications for “Special Concurrent Sessions.” Each session is approximately 100 minutes in duration and should include a minimum of 4 paper presentations. The session organizer or their team can present a maximum of 2 papers during the session. Session organizers will be responsible for promoting the workshop, selecting, and reviewing the final report papers.
Following the conclusion of the ISETS2025 conference, papers presented during the special concurrent sessions will be considered for publication in special issues.
Please send your proposal to events@isets.org; and isets2025@hotmail.com. contact us at isets@isets.org
- The 9th International Academic Conference on Energy and Resources Systems Engineering will be held on 7-9 November, China University of Mining and Technology, China
The 9th International Academic Conference on Energy and Resources Systems Engineering will be held at China University of Mining and Technology from November 7th to 9th, 2025.This conference is jointly organized by the Energy and Resources Systems Engineering Committee of the Chinese Society of Systems Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, and the International Society for Energy Transition Studies, and is hosted by the School of Economics and Management of China University of Mining and Technology. This conference will organize plenary reports, parallel reports, invited reports, group reports and dean forums, etc., focusing on issues related to the new energy system and high-quality energy development.
Conference Theme:
The new energy system and high-quality energy development
Host Organizations:
Energy and Resources Systems Engineering Branch of the Chinese Society of Systems Engineering
China University of Mining and Technology
International Society for Energy Transition Studies
Organization:
School of Economics and Management, China University of Mining and Technology
- 2025 International Society for Energy Transition Studies High-level Forum will be held on 15 November, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau, China
We are pleased to announce that the School of Business, Macao University of Science and Technology will be hosting the International Society for Energy Transition Studies High-level Forum on 15 November 2025. This prestigious event is designed to bring together leading minds in academia, industry, and policy-making to discuss and share insights on the critical issues surrounding energy transition. The summit aims to foster dialogue on the latest developments in energy transition, explore innovative solutions to challenges in the energy sector, facilitate networking among professionals and thought leaders and promote collaboration for research and development in sustainable energy.
We will provide information on conference details in the coming weeks. Please keep an eye on our website for updates and further details. We look forward to your participation and to a fruitful and enlightening summit.
